HOLLY McDonell was just four when a revolutionary, tiny device changed her life and made her part of medical history. Today, at 24, the world's first cochlear implant recipient has just graduated with first-class honours in law at Sydney University and is living proof of the difference science can make.

As she celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the breakthrough Aussie invention with the surgeon who made it possible, Professor Bill Gibson, Ms McDonell reflected on the implant that brought sound to her silent world. She said she was also thankful that cochlear implant inventor alumnus Professor Graeme Clark (MB '58, MS '69, PhD '70, HonMD '89) ignored those who said a bionic ear implant "was not possible in the foreseeable future''.

"Without the implant I am completely deaf but with it I can hear just as well as everyone else,'' she said.

"I can hear voices and accents and tones, I can hear anger and happiness ... I do wonder what my life would be like without it and I just can't imagine it being so good. I feel so blessed.''

Ms McDonell fell deaf at age four after contracting bacterial meningitis. She received no benefit from hearing aids and her speech quickly deteriorated. Her parents were told the only option for their daughter was to learn sign language, unless they wanted to try a new, radical Australian invention that had not been commercially tried before.

"At the time it was very new and it was a really hard decision for (my parents) but it was by far the best decision they ever made - that decision has made my life,'' Ms McDonell said.

The implant meant that Ms McDonell could attend mainstream school with no special support - completing her HSC in 2000 before going on to study economics and law. She is currently finishing her practical legal work experience at Clayton Utz before being admitted as a solicitor later this year. She will start as a graduate lawyer with Clayton Utz in August.

Ms McDonell celebrated the 20th anniversary of the implant earlier this month with surgeon Professor Bill Gibson. "I wrote him (Professor Gibson) a card when I graduated from uni, I said 'without you my life wouldn't be so amazing'. It's hard to know what to say because anything you say is going to be an understatement.''




This is an edited version of a story that appeared in The Daily Telegraph on 16 June 2007